Him

"Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured." The doctor pushes his hands into the pocket, tipping his head. "She doesn't have much time. She needs to be taken care of now very carefully."

A look of hopelessness, that's what his face reflects. His eyes are watery and not lively anymore. His heart has found no comfort these days and now, he does not even think it will ever receive comfort.

"Any other way? Like anything that can help her, doctor?" He asks desperately.

"Nothing, Mr Dawood. The disease is incurable."

With that said, he excuses himself. He walks away, leaving the lost man behind. For the first time, he thinks he has lost everything. Like everything is getting plundered from his very open hands and he can do nothing except watch it happening.

Tears leave his eyes, and he looks at the closed door of his wife's room which she has kept under watch and care.

His feet lead him ahead and he peeks inside. A nurse is collecting the stuff and walks out, greeting Adam on the way.

"How long?" He asks, absent-mindedly, staring with dead eyes at his wife who lies with closed eyes.

"Three months, Dr Gomez told me."

Nodding his head, he walks inside. The door is closed and he walks to his wife, sitting beside her. He stares at her face, bringing his hand to caress her forehead, and right then, her eyes open.

"I thought you were sleeping," he says, voice coming out deep, laced with agony, "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

She shakes her head, smiling at him. "These tubes," she says, glancing down at the back of her palm. Adam follows her gaze, hearing her say, "They hurt."

He purses his lips, lifting his gaze to her. The look in her bright blue eye, as he witnesses, a very deep and lovely look of love and satisfaction like she thirsted for him and now is quenched, is pleasing as well as hurting to him. How painful it is for him to realize that he won't be able to behold them anymore.

"Don't worry, they won't remain for long." He puts her hand in his, wrapping his fingers around very tenderly. He starts caressing the skin, hoping it will give her some comfort where it hurts and he is right. The warmth, the feather touch, and his sweet presence give her a lot of comfort.

"How long do I have to be here?"

"Just one more day."

"Finally." She sighs. "I don't like hospitals. Your friend, Evalena, is the only girl I like here. Others are rude and grumpy."

He smiles, humming, "And?"

"And the smell, eww. I feel like vomiting."

"And?"

"I don't like this hospital gown either. The color is dull. All the while, I missed you. How badly I wanted to annoy you today also, adding bliss to it, but I couldn't."

He chuckles, shaking his head. He looks at her and leans closer. He tilts his head and says lovingly, "Well, this night, nobody can disturb us. Annoy me as much as you like."

She chuckles, holding her chest. Adam notices it but says nothing, even though his heart saddens because he knows the reason. It hurts her but she is used to the pain now and complains not even a single word. How badly he wishes to take that pain and free her from it.

"Of course. Who would stop me?" She makes a face, making him smile. She beholds the beauty of it, asking further, "Now tell me, why were you crying?"

A very light touch like a fleeting bliss kisses his cheek, bringing him out of the trance. He looks up and there is Evalena, staring at him in confusion while her hands are halted in the air, one holding cotton and the other, an injection.

"Why are you crying?" She asks, walking away to throw down the cotton as well as the used injection. She comes back, eyes fluttering to his naked chest and the huge bandage clenches her heart but she says nothing about it.

"I know it hurts, but you have no other way than to endure it. Don't worry about it. I'll give you painkillers once we're home."

He nods, looking down at his shirt. She comes to him and cups his face. She wipes away his tears, mumbling, "I had no idea you'd cry like a child upon an injury."

Like a lost child, he watches her taking his shirt and helping him wear it. He complies, followed by his overcoat. They then leave the hospital. Evalena drives to their house, having Adam sit beside her while Barak is in the backseat.

He does not talk much but listens to his wife and son chatting like every time, smiling at them from time to time. His family gives him happiness, no matter how deeply he is hurt. At the end of the day, he is just happy with his wife and his son.

They reach home and Evalena takes the lead. Her time is spent cooking and handling other stuff. Adam wishes to help her but she denies it. For her, it is not a very great task. She has done it before but Adam, being not a sloth in or out, wishes to keep on working. He even refused the painkillers.

They do dinner together and Barak is fast asleep after praying with his father. But Adam sits for another two hours with Evalena, praying in his heart. He is used to it.

Long prayers gave him satisfaction. There was so much to tell the Lord that no human would even understand and keep an ear upon. His relationship with God will always remain on the top, irreplaceable and the time he has set for it will never come to cease. Along with that, he is deeply troubled in his heart which has been increasing the physical pain also. The entire day passed and now when it was time, he wanted to lighten the heaviness on his chest.

Even while praying, he cries silently. Tears roll down his cheeks until there is a sense of comfort he has found. He feels enshrouded by a heavenly touch and once he is able to breathe peacefully, he gets up. He rolls the mattress and puts the Holy Bible in its place. He comes out and once the door is closed behind, Evalena holds his hand and makes him sit on the couch. Before sleeping, she wants to change the dressing.

❥⁠˙⁠๑

Her

She helps him in removing the shirt and puts it aside. She sits beside him and Adam, on his own, starts telling her about what happened in the house while she was out. He does not hide anything from her.

"Is she who hurt you?" She whispers to herself in disbelief, shaking her head. Her eyes remain focused on his wound as she treats it. "She needs mental treatment," she mutters.

Adam does not say anything regarding Nicole, ignoring her as nothing but deep inside, he is worried about her.

The girl looked possessed. No matter how lethal she was, Adam could not help but pity her. He has never experienced the feeling of unrequited love like Evalena and Nicole but he admits it is painful.

You gaze at the one you love dearly but cannot have him. How deep is the regret you would feel?

"And one thing I wanted to know from you, Eva."

She hums, giving her a short look. She proceeds to treat his arm.

"Was it really Nora's will to die? Or you're hiding something from me?"

She halts, swallowing in discomfort. Nora's topic has always troubled her. This is not something new. But proceeding with the task, she nods her head because she knows she cannot hide anything from Adam anymore.

"And what's that?" He sounds firm as well as slightly annoyed now.

Evalena keeps her eyes down, afraid of the outcome.

"Nora... Nora never willed to die."

"And you hid it from me?" He mutters, frowning at the ugly truth, and the change in him makes her nervous.

The look of her tensed shoulders and the way her hands ceased to work on his arm do not go unnoticed by him and he repents, apologizing to her. She doesn't mind it and tells him about everything that happened in the past and he was not aware of it.

Adam listens to her silently, not interrupting her anywhere but the truth has him disappointed as well as sad.

She tells him that as Nicole wanted to take care of her sister when it was her last days, it was in her hands but whether because of a mistake or in knowledge, she overdosed her own sister in the absence of others and Nora died even before three months could reach.

Later to conceal her mistake, she put all the blame on Evalena, telling Adam that Nora shared about her will to die out of immense pain and in no hope of recovering with Evalena and Evalena proceeded with it, without sharing the decision with Adam who had every right to know.

Evalena, being her doctor, had every right to know what caused Nora to die this early. Well, just in a week after she was discharged from the hospital! But before she could take a look at it, Adam came in a rage to confront her and it was the moment she learned that Nicole had played her card quite brilliantly, and who would not believe her? She was a kin while Evalena, was only a neighbor and a friend.

But even after she found out that overdose was the reason for Nora's death, she could not come before Adam and tell him about everything because she knew Adam had believed Nicole's lie and as he said, she had lost his trust and nothing would help her recover it. In short, she lost hope.

Adam sighs and wipes away her tears. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." She shakes her head, looking down. "I was stupid, keeping everything in heart. How wrong! You had every right to know. Isn't Nicole right when she says that I'm a betrayer?" She looks at him, eyes filled with tears.

"She has lied enough."

"But not about me. I've broken your trust. We were good friends. At least, keeping our friendship in mind, I should've told you everything but I didn't. How can you keep forgiving me? I broke your heart. She is right; I don't deserve you—"

He grips the nape of her neck and brings her face to face with him, dangerously close so that their breaths mingle and she can stare into the depth of his flaming orbs.

She swallows, releasing a shuddering breath through her tears, her face flushed and the skin glowing under the bright glow of moonlight coming from the sliding door of their room as the curtains are still gathered in a corner but the doors closed.

"Listen to me, Eva, and listen well, hm?" She nods her head, letting him continue with that same serious expression, "You're forgiven and whenever you mention the past, I don't know what you're talking about. What has happened, has happened. Now the reality is, that you're my wife and I love you the most, okay?"

For an entire minute, she stays silent, contemplating the meaning of his words. She keeps looking into his eyes as the silence prevails and when gradually her mind starts absorbing the truth, her lips fall open in surprise.

"W-What? You love me?" She finally asks, low voice yet like a baby after she has cried enough.

He nods, remaining silent.

"Oh, my goodness!" She releases herself, palming her mouth. "You love me, Adam?"

He hums.

She palms her chest, realizing that her heart is not beating normally anymore. It is beating faster than ever. She taps twice on her chest, mumbling under her breath, "God, he loves me."

He bites back a smile. "Is Eva still doubting?" He asks, tilting his head and looking at her flushed face.

"To Eva, it feels like a dream," she answers, half mischievously and half dreamingly.

"Should Adam then do something that can make Eva believe that he loves her?" He suggests, inching closer to whisper into her ear.

She looks at him confusedly as her gaze lowers to his face. A smile dangles on his lips and his bright amber eyes beholds her. A few of his locks have covered his forehead and once again, they make him look younger. He looks too innocent like that.

"What would you do?" She asks, almost whispering to him.

"Come here," he whispers back, gesturing to her like he wants to tell her a secret.

Having fun, she complies. She slants her head lightly to bring her ear to hear him tell her the secret.

He smiles, whispering into her ear, "I prayed a lot when I got heartbroken. You were the answer to it."

Stillness holds Evalena in its place as she hears Adam telling her the truth. She looks at him, turning her face, and finds him smiling at her.

"You think so?"

"I know it, Eva. It is only the Lord and I know how much I have shattered before him. Whatever happened to me, I felt like it was unfair. Still, I desired to be healed for Barak's sake, and I never knew it would be possible."

She stares at him, wanting him to keep confessing to her. His words, they are like balm to her old wounds.

"He sent you with the purpose of healing me as He stretched out His hand. You're blessed beyond imagination, Eva, for completing His purpose."

"I too desired you like crazy, Adam," her confession halts him while she gathers the courage to continue before him, "I have asked you in my prayers and He knows it. I was selfish, Adam. Very much. What did I do to deserve you?"

"Well, the Lord sees the hearts. He saw the change in you."

❥⁠˙⁠๑

"Read me a poem, Adam."

"As you say, wifey."

She bites back a smile.

"In you, my love, the cosmos has answered my plea as I beseeched the heavens above, sunken in melancholy. In my quest, for solace and serenity, your presence was bestowed upon me. Truly in you, I've found my world, someone to give me comfort and tranquility."

"How impressive. Who's the poet?"

"Professor Rizzler."

❥⁠˙⁠๑

"Lena, I want to talk to you," Nora says, catching Evalena's attention.

She nods to the nurse as she leaves. After they are alone, she drops the facade and smiles at Nora. She comes to her and sits beside her, saying, "What is it?"

Nora smiles back, "You're very sweet and honest," she says out of nowhere.

"You think so?" She chuckles, not believing the compliment.

"Of course."

"But that's not what you wanted to say." Evalena shakes her head softly. "It's something else."

"Indeed it's something else," Nora accepts with a sigh, "But I wanted to start from there—you're a nice girl."

Confusion masks Evalena's face and she wonders why would Nora compliment her all of a sudden. She believes Nora is a nice woman but the way she wants to start the conversation is out of expectations.

"And you're also a nice girl." Evalena smiles, her shoulders perking.

Nora's smile doesn't waver as the kind gesture returns. But soon, she reveals something that makes Evalena's smile drop.

"Lena, I know about my disease that I'm going to die soon."

Evalena breathes deeply. "So Adam told you?"

"You think he'd ever tell me?" She can't help but smile at the mention of his name. "No, he didn't, but I knew that. I knew I had this disease because I had read my reports."

Though Evalena is speechless, she can't help but murmur, "I'm sorry."

Nora shakes her head. "Pitiful, isn't it? Maybe I wasn't made for him," she confesses in a meek voice that reflects pain but she keeps a smile on her face, not surprising Evalena.

She has known Nora and the girl always smiled. She never let others see the confusion, pain, or anything depressing inside her. It was only Adam who knew her well, not even her parents, and that's why she lost her heart to him.

"Don't think so. Don't I know how much he loves you? You love each other and got married. He loves you so much," Evalena can't help but say, smiling at Nora even if it hurts her somewhere.

"He does. And nothing can define the extent of his love for me. However, now I'd die and he'd have to stay alone. I don't want that."

"But you really think he'll remarry?"

"He will have to. He'll do it for Barak. I know him."

Evalena sighs. "You surely do. So you want me to search for a bride for him?" She jokes, chuckling on her own.

Nora joins, shaking her head. "If I ask you to marry him, will you do it, Lena?" She asks straight, leaving Evalena speechless. Nora immediately holds her hands, proceeding to speak before Evalena can deny, "I trust you with it and blame me, Lena, I'm too selfish when it comes to him."

"My answer doesn't matter, then?"

Nora bites her bottom lip. "Can you tell me a woman on whom I can put my trust? But when it's you, you're his childhood friend. You've known him for a long." She contemplates before adding the last line, saying nonetheless, "Besides, I know that you love him."

Her eyes widen and her tongue stutters as she hurries to deny but the look in Nora's eyes does not change. She knows she is lying but still, Nora listens to her broken lies silently.

"You knew that?"

Nora nods.

"How?"

"Your eyes, Lena. They say that all. I've been noticing since I met you at his farewell and from then, I have found no change in your feelings."

"But I can't marry him, Nora."

"Why not?"

"Because he loves you, not me. He wants you."

"But you want him, don't you?"

Only if Nora knew how truly, deeply, and madly Evalena was in love with her husband but never voiced her feelings before anyone.

But as Nora said, her eyes could never hide anything.

"Think about it, for my Adam's sake," with that said, she closed her eyes to fall into a slumber as medicines started working on her.

Evalena stands to leave, still thinking about what Nora has said. She walks out of the room, deep in her thoughts when she collides with someone, stumbling back, but the person holds her.

Her eyes raise to look at him and the face of the person makes her heartbeat quicken in a moment.

"Are you alright?"

❥⁠˙⁠๑

The story ends here. There's nothing left to reveal. Hope you liked the story. Also, I'm thinking of writing an epilogue. Do you want it or not?

And I've started writing Barak's story. It's on my Wattpad profile, named "Love Me, Mikayla". Please, go and see his girl lol!
In that story, first there'll be 3 interludes before the actual chapters and don't forget to read the note.

Thanks for reading, by the way. An epilogue will take some time bc my exams are ongoing.

Jesus loves you <3

Instagram:- @wattpad.ahava